Therapeutic device



.1. ROSETT 1,795,893

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE March 10, 1931.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5, 1929 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS March 10, 1931.J, -r1- THERAPEUTIC DEVICE 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5,

INVENTOR VJ/4i. find C BY 21517 4hr, ATTORNEYS 10, 1931. ROSETTTHERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed June 5. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H INVENTOR M 4M,5M1 V ZN.

ATTORNEYS Patented Man 10, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOSHUA ROSETT, OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Application filed June 5, 1929.

This invention relates to therapeutic de vices of the general typedescribed and claimed in United States Patent No. 1,608,239 granted tome November 23, 1926.

5 The general object of this invention is to provide a device of thecharacter'to which said patent is directed by which a massaging orkneading action may be imparted to the tissues of only three generalsides of a par ticular part of the patients body, leaving the fourthside free and unobstructed, i. e., out

of contact with and unhampered by the apparatus.

Two forms of the apparatus embodying the invention are herein shown anddescribed, one being a helmet-like structure adapted to be applied tothe head of a patient for treating the scalp, neck and cheeks, and theother being a pad-like structure upon which the patient is placed and bywhich treatment may be administered to either the back or the back andsides of such patient.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form ofapparatus applied to the head of a patient; Figure 2 is a front view ofthe device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the device;Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the deviceshowing the relation of the several pneumatic tubes to each other;Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing how the corresponding transversetubes in the various sections are related to their longitudinal tubes;Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of certain of thetransverse tubes; Figure 7 is a plan view of a pad-like structure bywhich treatment may be administered to either the back or the back andsides of a patient; and Figure 8 is an end view of the modified form ofapparatus showing the shape which it assumes a when applied to a patientin such manner as to render it effective upon the back and sides of apatient.

In Figures 1 to 6 inclusive one form of the device embodying thisinvention is shown as comprising what may be considered a pneu- SerialNo. 368,466.

matic helmet or hood-like structure, including a plurality of transversetubes arranged in upper and lower groups U and L, respectively, therebeing six tubes Nos. 1 to 6 inclusive in each group. These tubes areconstructed of a suitable material, such as rubberized cloth, in themanner described in the above patent, and are arranged in a parallel andadjacent relation within the body of the helmet. The four uppermosttubes of the helmet extend entirely around the head portion of thehelmet, whereas the remaining tubes are of a generally semi-circularcontour.

In order that the tubes may be held in a proper relation to each other,they are suitably connected to the inner wall of an outer cover 10,which includes an upper or head portion A, a central or cheek portion B,and a lower or neck portion C, the structure being reinforced by aspring member 11, which is disposed intermediate the transverse tubesand the cover 10 and extends along the back of the helmet from the loweredge of the central portion B upwardly and forwardly to a point just infront of the vertical axis of the head portion A. Additionally, thestructure is reinforced by a thin flat spring member 13, which iscoextensive with the width of the central portion B and is suitably heldbetween the transverse tubes of such central portion and the outer cover10, there being for this purpose a suitable connection, not shown,between the spring 11 and the spring 13 at their point of contact witheach other. As shown, the side walls of the central portion B of thehelmet extend an appreciable distance forwardly of the front of thehead. portion A, thus forming wing sections 14 which are adapted toengage the cheeks of a patient, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. These wingsections 14 are given a definite shape, which is dependent upon thecurvature of the flat spring 13, the spring being preferably such thatits end portions first converge and then diverge, with the result that afree and unobstructed passage is at forded between the outer ends of thewing sections to accommodate the patients nose and mouth, thuspermitting treatments by means of this device to be carried out withoutsubjecting the patient to any discomfort. The spring 13 not only servesto render the helmet self-sustaining, but it also serves to maintain thetransverse tubes of the cheek portion B in yielding engagement with thepatients face, its inherent resiliency be ing taken advantage of inconjunction with periodic inflation and deflation of the tubes to imparta rolling or partly rotary massaging action to the patients face, aswill hereinafter more clearly appear.

Preferably, adjustable securing means are provided by which the outerends of the wing sections 1a may be connected together so that theexpansion action of the spring 13 may be limited as desired, thuscausing the transverse tubes common to the intermediate section B toexert more or less pressure upon the cheeks of the patient as desired.Obviously, various forms of securing means may be employed. In thedevice illustrated in the drawings, this means comprises a tab 16 whichis suitably connected to one of the wing sections 14 and carries at itsfree end a plurality of hooks 17 adapted to cooperate with a pluralityof eyelets carried by the other wing section. As above stated, thesecuring means for the wing section 14 serve to limit the extent towhich the spring 13 may be expanded, with the result that the pressureexerted upon the patient by the transverse tubes, which are common tothe intermediate section B, may be varied as desired. For example, ifthe wing sections are secured together so as to permit maximum expansionof the spring 13, there will be only a relatively slight pressureexerted generally upon the forward portion of the patients cheeks,leaving the intermediate section free to expand and to move rearwardlyunder the influence of the pressure exerted generally upon the back ofthe patients neck and head by the transverse tubes; if the ends of thewing sections are secured closer together, there will be less expansionof the spring 13 with the result that a greater pressure is applied bythe transverse tubes and since, under such conditions, pressure isapplied more forwardly to the patients cheeks, due to the more nearlycomplete embracing relation of the intermediate portion to the patient,the tendency of the intermediate section to move rearwardly by reason ofpressure exerted generally upon the back of the patients head and neckis somewhat counteracted by the opposing force exerted upon the patientscheeks by the adjacent ends of the transverse tubes. It will beappreciated, however, that as the wing sections are secured closer andcloser together, and the pressure exerted by the transverse tubes at allpoints will be greater and greater, and the rearward movement of theintermediate portion will become less and less and hence the rollingmassaging action will be diminished so that the action of the devicewill approach that of the device shown, described and claimed in theabove patent by which only a wave-like ac tion upon the tissues iseffected.

Inflation and deflation of the transverse tubes may be carried out inthe order described in the above patent by the use of a suitable valvemechanism, not shown for controlling the passage of pressure from asuitable source to the transverse tubes during the period of inflationand for controlling the escape of pressure from such tubes to theatmosphere during the period of defiation. F or transmitting thepressure to and away from the transverse tubes there are provided aplurality of longitudinal tubes, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4:, 5' and 6, which areconnected, respectively, to the transverse tubes Nos. 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, and6 of the upper and lower groups U and L.

As will be understood, the order of inflation and deflation of thetransverse tubes longitudinal tubes are placed, respectively, icommunication with a source of pressur and with the atmosphere by theabove-ment is dependent upon the order in which the;

tioned valve mechanism. As to this, how\ ever, it is desirable that theexpansion oft each transverse tube shall take place before the adjacentpreceding transverse tube has begun to collapse, and as soon as theexpansion of a tube has been accomplished the air in the precedingadjacent transverse tube should be promptly released. By this method ofinflating and deflating the transverse tubes, such tubes are caused toexert waves of pressure upon the tissues of such parts of the patientsbody as are undergoing treatment in the general direction of the flow ofthe venous blood and lymphatic fluids.

Due to the construction and arrangement of parts entering into theapparatus herein shown, the cheeks of the patient are subjected, inaddition to the above described wavelike pressure, to a rollingmassaging movement which is accomplished as follows: As the transversetubes of the central portion B are progressively inflated and moved intomore intimate contact with the tissues of the cheeks, a series ofpressures are exerted in a generally downward direction, and at the sametime such central portion is moved generally rearwardly by reason of thefact that the semi-circular transverse tubes rest upon the back of thepatients head and when there inflated cause the central portion of thedevice to retract. Additionally, the central portion B is subjected toan expansion action as the transverse tubes common to that portion areinflated, due to the fact that such tubes tend to straighten out thespring 13. This expansion causes that part of the device which is incontact with the front of the patients cheeks to move in oppositedirections laterally, with the result that the extreme front areas ofthe patients checks are correspondingly moved at the same time pressureis applied by the transverse tubes in a generally down ward direction.Since there exists a suiticient amount of friction between thesemicircular transverse tubes and the patients checks to preventslippage between the checks of the patient and such portions of thedevice as are in contact therewith, the tissues of the cheeks are forcedto move in correspondence with such movement as is imparted to thecentral portion B, and inasmuch as pressure in a generally downwarddirection is exerted upon the patients cheeks at the same time thecentral portion B is moved in a generally rearwardly direction, asdescribed, it follows that the tissues of the patients cheeks aresubjected to a rolling massaging action from which certain benelicialresults are to be attained.

The form of invention shown in Figures 7 and 8 is particularly adaptedto be used in treating the back or generally three sides of the patientand includes a pad-like structure, comprising a plurality of sections oftrans verse tubes at which are adapted to be progressively inflated anddeflated, as above described. In administering treatment with this formof device the patient is placed upon the structure in a horizontal orsubstantially horizontal position, and the side portions I) are foldedup along the sides of the patient and are secured to each other bysuitable means.

The securing means for the side portions Z) are herein shown as aplurality of hooks 0 which are attached to one flap or outer margin of abacking (Z of suitable material upon which the transverse tubes a arecarried, the other flap or outer margin of such backing being providedwith a plurality of eyelets adapted to cooperate with the books 0. Bythis type of securing means, the side portions 7) may be held in such arelation to the sides of the patient as to limit the pressure, asdesired, in a manner similar to that set forth in connection with thehelmet-like structure hereinbefore described. That is to say, the closerthe ends of the side portions 7) are secured together, the greater willbe the pressure exerted upon such parts of the patients body as contactwith the end margins of the transverse tubes, inasmuch as such tubes arerestrained against straightening out under the influence of pressuretherein, and the greater will be the massaging action exerted by theouter margins of the transverse tubes. Since the patients body is liftedand subjected to a wave-like motion, corresponding to the wave-likemotion of the transverse tubes as they are inflated. while the endmargin of the transverse tubes exert wave-like pressures upon the sidesof the patients body, there will be imparted a rotary massaging actionto such portions of the patients body as contact with the end margins ofthe transverse tubes in the same manner as the rotary massaging actionis exerted upon the patients checks by the helmet-like device previouslydescribed.

From the above, it will be understood that while the forms of theinvention herein shown are materially different from a structuralstandpoint, the operation of the two devices are substantiallyidentical, and that in each case a portion of the patients body is outof contact with and unhampered by the device, in the helmet-like device,such portion being the nose, mouth and the area in the vicinity of theeyes, and in the pad-like structure such portion being the uppermostside of the patients body, inasmuch as the securing means for the sideportions 5, corresponding to the securing means for the wing sections 14of the helmet-like device, is well above the free side of the patient,as will be readily understood from Figure 8, wherein the position of thepatients body is diagrammatically illustrated.

Thus far, the form of the device shown in Figures 7 and 8 has beendescribed as for use in treating more than one side of the patientsbody, but it will be understood that the device may be employed fortreating only one side of the patients body, if desired, in which casethe patient would be placed upon the transverse tubes and the sideportions Z) would be permitted to lie fiat, that is to say,

they would not be folded up out of their nor-' mal position into contactwith the patient. When the device is employed in this manner, there willbe no rolling massaging action, as the apparatus will function toproduce only wave-like pressures which are transmitted to that portionof the patients body which is in contact with the transverse tubes.

It is, of course, to be understood that the embodiments of theinvention, herein described, are merely illustrative and that they maybe modified in many respects without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a therapeutic device, a tubecarryiug section adapted to onlypartially embrace that part of a patient which is to be treated, aplurality of collapsible tubes associated with said section and adaptedto contact with and only partially embrace that part of the patientwhich is to be treated and having their respective ends spaced from eachother, said tubes being adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflatedone after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure uponthe extremity of that part of the patient to which treatment is to beadministered and to cause the free ends of said section to undergomovement with respect to such part of the patient, whereby a resultantmovement of the tissues undergoing treatment is effected in a directiondepending upon the direction of travel of said waves of pressure and thedirection of said movement of said free ends of said section.

2. In a therapeutic device, a tube-carrying section adapted to onlypartially embrace that part of a patient which is to be treated, aplurality of collapsible tubes associated with said section and adaptedto contact with and only partially embrace that part of the patientwhich is to be treated and having their ends spaced from each other,said tubes being adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated oneafter another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon theextremity of that part of the patient to which treatment is to beadministered and to cause the free ends of said section to undergomovement with respect to such part of the patient, whereby a resultantmovement of the tissues undergoing treatment is effected in a directiondepending upon the direction of travel of said waves of pressure and thedirection of said movement of said free ends of said section, andadjustable means for securing the adjacent free ends of said sectiontogether and for varying said movement of the free ends of said section,whereby said resultant movement may be correspondingly varied.

3. In a therapeutic device adapted to be applied to the head of apatient, a helmet-like structure including a yieldable section adaptedto overlie the cheeks of a patient, a plural ity of collapsible tubesassociated with said helmet-like structure and adapted to be repeatedlyinflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exertwaves of pressure upon the extremity of that part of the patient towhich said helmet-like structure is applied.

4. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a headsection adapted to be applied to the head of a patient and anothersection adapted to overlie the patients cheeks, a spring memberassociated with the second named section, and a plurality of collapsibletubes associated with said sections and adapted to be repeatedlyinflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exertwaves of pressure upon the scalp and checks of the patient.

5. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a headsection adapted to be applied to the head of a patient and anothersection adapted to overlie the patients cheeks, a curved spring memberassociated with the second named section and adapted to urge suchsection into firm contact with the patients cheeks, and a plurality ofcollapsible tubes associated with said sectlons and adapted to berepeatedly inflated and deflated one after another so as to cause themto exert waves of pressure upon the scalp and checks of the patient.

6. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a headsection adapted to be applied to the head of a patient and anothersection adapted to overlie the atients cheeks, a substantially U-shapedspring member associated with the second, named section and adapted tourge said section into firm contact with the patients cheeks, the freeends of said spring member being divergently disposed at the front ofthe second named section and there holding the forward ends of suchsection in a diverging relation, and a plurality of collapsible tubesassociated with said sections and adapted to be repeatedly inflated anddeflated one after another so as to cause them to exert waves ofpressure upon the scalp and cheeks of the patient.

7. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a headsection and another section adapted to overlie the patients cheeks andterminating at its front in wing portions, a substantially U-shapedspring associated with the second named section and .having its freeends divergently disposed,

the diverging ends of said spring member serving to hold said wingportions also in a diverging relation, and a plurality of collapsibletubes associated with said sections and adapted to be repeatedlyinflated and deflated one after another so as to cause them to exertwaves of pressure upon the scalp and cheeks of a patient.

8. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a headsection and another section adapted to overlie the cheeks of a patient,reenforcing spring associated with said head section for rendering suchsection self-sustaining, a substantially U- shaped spring memberassociated with the second named section and attached at it intermediatepoint to the first named spring, the free ends of the second namedspring being located at the front of the second named section, aplurality of collapsible tubes associated with said helmet-likestructure and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one afteranother so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure upon the scalpand cheeks of the patient.

9. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a headsection, and intermediate section, and a neck sect-ion adapted toembrace respectively the head, cheeks and neck of a patient; resilientmeans for urging said intermediate section into firm engagement with thecheeks of a patient; and a plurality of collapsible tubes associatedwith said sections and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflatedone after another so as to cause them to exert waves of pressure uponthe scalp, cheeks and neck of a patient.

10. In a therapeutic device, a helmet-like structure including a headsection, and intermediate section, and a neck section adapted to embracerespectively the head, cheeks and neck of a patient; resilient means forurging said intermediate section into firm engagement with the cheeks ofa patient; and a plurality of collapsible tubes associated with saidsections and adapted to be repeatedly inflated and deflated one afteranother so as to cause them to exert Waves of pressure upon the scalp,cheeks and neck of a patient, and a reenforcing spring included in saidhelmet-like structure for rendering sections thereof self-sustaining,said reenforcing spring being located at the rear of said structure andextending from the vicinity of the lower section thereof to a point inthe vicinity of the center of said head section.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

- JOSHUA ROSETT.

